Ecclesiastical Details - Catholics India

Diocese of Bagdogra

Rite:

Latin

Population:

935000

Status:

Diocese

Catholics:

54614

Founded:

14-Jun-97

Diocesan Priests:

Total area:

1200 Sq. km

Religious Priests:

Province:

Calcutta

Religious Sisters:

136

Region:

Bengal

Seminarians:

Patron:

Jesus the Good Shepherd

Languages:

Civil States:

West Bengal: One sub-division (Siliguri) and part of another (Kurseong) among the four sub-divisions of Darjeeling district

Contact Diocese Office :

Archbishop's House 32 Mother Teresa Sarani Kolkata-700016 (West Bengal)

Telephone 1:

0353-25 11 182 / 0353-25 18 153

Fax:

25 18 153

E-Mail Office:

bishbagdogra@sifi.com

Website:

catholicdioceseofbagdogra.in

Most Rev. Vincent Aind, Bishops of Bagdogra

Name:

Most Rev. Vincent Aind

Designation:

Bishops

Canonical Possession:

2015-

Telephone (P):

E-mail (P):

Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Bagdogra

Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Bagdogra

Ecclesiastical Institutions

Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres

Educational Institutions

Parishes:

Hospitals:

Degree Colleges:

Major Seminaries:

Orphanages:

Technical Training Centres:

Minor Seminaries:

Special Schools:

High Schools:

Monastries:

Crèches:

Lower Primary Schools:

Convents:

Counselling Centres:

Presses & Media Centres:

Formation Houses:

Social Centres:

Professional Colleges:

Retreat Centres:

Dispensaries / Clinics:

Parallel Colleges:

Physically Challenged:

Higher Secondary :

Boarding Houses:

Upper Primary Schools:

HIV / AIDS Centres:

Nurseries/Pre-Primary :

De-addiction Centres:

Aged & Destitute:

History of the Diocese of Bagdogra

In the early part of the twentieth century when the tea gardens in the foothills of Darjeeling required labourers many Adivasis from Chotanagpur migrated to the Terai Plains and gradually settled down there.

The Jesuit Fathers from St. Mary's College Kurseong looked after the spiritual needs of the Adivasi Catholics quite regularly. The first Station was established in Gayaganga in 1933 by Fr A. Bossaerts sj

The area called 'Terai' was established in 1962. As the number of Catholics and local vocations increased and for better care of the Faithful Pope John Paul II decided to divide the Diocese of Darjeeling and thus this Diocese of Bagdogra was created on January 25 1998 with Bishop Thomas D'Souza as its First Bishop.

Prelates of the Diocese of Bagdogra

Bishops Name	Prelate's Status	Period	Bishops Name	Prelate's Status	Period
	Bishop	1997 - 2011